As usual, the wide and fast Michigan International Speedway was the host of a pretty safe but nail-bitting NASCAR Sprint Cup race as, once again, fuel economy became the major tool to winning the LifeLock 400 race.
Veteran Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) dominated the event for at least the first three-quarters of the race. Then, Greg Biffle (Ford No 16) passed Johnson. Those Roush-Fenway Fords are always very strong at the Michigan International Speedway. But, as the race was run under the green flag, fuel became a concern.
Johnson was chasing Biffle who tried to save as much fuel as possible and just as he passed him for the lead with a lap to go, his Chevy ran out of fuel, a rare mistake by crew chief Chad Knaus. Biffle went back to the lead but with less than a mile to go, he too ran out of fuel.
Veteran Mark Martin (Chevy No 5) was far behind both drivers observing both race cars. He obviously understood what was happening and took advantage of the situation. He had not lead a lap but he still passed Biffle and raced to the checkered flag to win the race!
Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet No 24) followed in second place with Denny Hamlin in third and Carl Edwards in fourth. Greg Biffle finally ended up fifth.
Tony Stewart (Chevy No 14) who finished seventh behind Juan Pablo Montoya (Chevy No 42) still leads the championship with 47 points over Jeff Gordon. Johnson is third.
The next Sprint Cup race, a road course event, will be run next Sunday at the Infineon Raceway.
Veteran Jimmie Johnson (Chevy No 48) dominated the event for at least the first three-quarters of the race. Then, Greg Biffle (Ford No 16) passed Johnson. Those Roush-Fenway Fords are always very strong at the Michigan International Speedway. But, as the race was run under the green flag, fuel became a concern.
Johnson was chasing Biffle who tried to save as much fuel as possible and just as he passed him for the lead with a lap to go, his Chevy ran out of fuel, a rare mistake by crew chief Chad Knaus. Biffle went back to the lead but with less than a mile to go, he too ran out of fuel.
Veteran Mark Martin (Chevy No 5) was far behind both drivers observing both race cars. He obviously understood what was happening and took advantage of the situation. He had not lead a lap but he still passed Biffle and raced to the checkered flag to win the race!
Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet No 24) followed in second place with Denny Hamlin in third and Carl Edwards in fourth. Greg Biffle finally ended up fifth.
Tony Stewart (Chevy No 14) who finished seventh behind Juan Pablo Montoya (Chevy No 42) still leads the championship with 47 points over Jeff Gordon. Johnson is third.
The next Sprint Cup race, a road course event, will be run next Sunday at the Infineon Raceway.